New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Centre on Friday asked the State Governments to ensure that there is no restriction on the manufacture, transportation and supply of medical oxygen in any part of the country, as it is an essential item in the management of increasing numbers of active COVID-19 patients.
In a letter written to all the Chief Secretaries of the States and Union Territories (UTs), Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said, “As you are aware, availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen is an important pre-requisite for management of moderate and severe cases of COVID-19. With increasing number of active cases of COVlD-19, the consumption of oxygen is also expected to increase.”
"It has come to the notice that some States are trying to curb the inter-state movement of oxygen supplies from manufacturing units situated in their respective states by exercising power under various laws including Epidemic Disease Act 1897, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Essential Commodities Act",the Home Secretary further sàid in the letter.